Avian flu confirmed in UP, extra carcasses of birds despatched for checks

The Centre Saturday mentioned Uttar Pradesh was the seventh state within the nation to report an outbreak of chicken flu or avian influenza.
Besides Uttar Pradesh, the opposite six states the place chicken flu has been confirmed are Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat.
“So far, the disease has been confirmed from seven states… The Department has issued an advisory to the affected states so as to avoid further spread of the disease,” the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy mentioned in an announcement.
According to the ministry’s assertion, chicken flu has been confirmed within the samples despatched from Zoological Park, Kanpur, and Pratapgarh.
According to Kanpur zoo officers, two junglefowls (jungli murga) have been discovered lifeless earlier this week. District Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) RP Mishra mentioned that they acquired the take a look at report on Saturday night time, confirming them to be optimistic.

The zoo has been sealed and closed for guests for the following 15 days, officers mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly has stopped Covid-19 checks and can probably resume avian influenza testing at its Biosafety Level-3 (BS-3) lab from Sunday.
However, as a consequence of lack of technical amenities on the IVRI, full-body checks of birds, suspected to have died of the flu, will proceed to be despatched to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal.

On Friday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed that the Bareilly-based analysis institute be used solely for avian influenza testing.
“The BS-3 laboratory at the IVRI is specialised in bird flu testing and similar other animal-related diseases. Last year, as there were not many incidences of such diseases, we were asked to test coronavirus samples. Now, as the bird flu scare is dominant, we have been relieved of conducting Covid tests and will start avian influenza tests. We have stopped accepting Covid samples and will finish our backlog by Saturday. The bird flu tests need more safety and security as the same is highly contagious and risky,” mentioned Joint Director and institute spokesperson Mahesh Chandra.

Nearly 20 crows have been discovered lifeless in an orchard in Barabanki on Friday. With chicken flu scare looming massive, one of many carcasses has been despatched to Bhopal for testing.
Chandra added that the birds carcasses would nonetheless be despatched to the Bhopal lab because it requires a full-body take a look at.
The IVRI, Bareilly, has amenities to check solely swabs and blood samples, and these checks are helpful solely when the chicken is alive.
The laboratory on the Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis in IVRI has been testing samples from regional illness diagnostic centres as a part of common surveillance.

The CM additionally requested the authorities to make sure that individuals don’t feed birds and keep away from direct contact with them. Amid expectations of 1000’s of migratory birds visiting the rivers in Prayagraj with the beginning of Magh Mela subsequent week, particular care is to be taken to stop chicken flu and stopping guests from feeding the birds.

Meanwhile, Barabanki District Chief Veterinary Officer Markandeya mentioned that almost 20 crows have been discovered lifeless at an orchard in Baddosarai space of the district on Friday morning. While one of many carcasses has been despatched to Bhopal for testing, relaxation have been cremated as per the chicken flu protocols.
With Inputs From PTI